A NEW community policing model was rolled out across Wiltshire today prior to being introduced in Swindon.

The community policing team model is a new initiative which encourages staff and officers to adopt a “one team” approach to local policing.

There will be seven CPTs across the county – Wiltshire North, Wiltshire West, Wiltshire East, Wiltshire South, Swindon North, Swindon West and Swindon South – with each one led by an inspector and made up of sergeants, community co-ordinators, PCs, PCSOs, local crime investigators and 'specials'.

The Swindon CPTs will be introduced from Monday, November 7.

Each team will also work closely with other departments within the police force, such as 101 and 999 call-takers, CID and public protection.

The CPT model is being introduced following a successful one-year pilot in the Trowbridge, Warminster, Bradford on Avon, Westbury, Tisbury and Mere areas.

The decision to implement the model across the whole force area was made in May.

Police and Crime Commissioner for Wiltshire and Swindon Angus Macpherson said: “I have closely followed the work in the pilot area and was sufficiently impressed by what I saw that I made the decision that this was the right model for the force.

“This builds on the success of our Neighbourhood Policing Teams, ensuring that we can continue to offer a local police service, with our communities at the heart of everything we do.

“The development of community policing will be an ongoing process and I want to continuously speak to and listen to the public, so our local communities can help shape exactly what this new model looks like in the future.”

The community policing team initiative has partially been made possible thanks to investment in new technology, such as laptops and smart phones, allowing officers and staff to work more remotely so they spend more time out in the communities rather than inside an office or police station.

Assistant Chief Constable Kier Pritchard said: “We are introducing community policing following an in-depth review of how best to manage the demand coming into the police service and how best to allocate our resources to provide the most efficient and effective service for the public.

“The principle behind it is making sure our local police teams are working closely together so that the right person, regardless of rank or role, is tasked with responding to a call or investigating a crime.

"That person is then responsible for that job from start to finish, meaning the victim of that crime gets a better level of service.

“I have been impressed with how well the model has worked in the pilot area and am looking forward to seeing it evolve as we implement the changes across the rest of the county and Swindon.”